Choco Del Mar - Tumaco 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 14, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Choco Del Mar
Tumaco 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choco Del Mar, online order 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Tumaco 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Choco Del Mar (Los Altos, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Colombia bar included: chocolate-y dark chocolate; faint forest (pine); and extremely faint licorice, molasses, floral, and smoke-y fruit (umami berry (golden berry)) and nut. This bar had a gentle, chocolate-y finish.

Texture: smooth, almost creamy texture with a satisfying melt

I liked the aroma and flavor complexity, the balanced (and relatively low) bitterness, and the natural sweetness that shone through--even given it was an 85% cacao (extra dark) chocolate. 

Maker's description: "Sourced from Colombia's lush Pacific coast, this bar offers a smooth journey of deep chocolatey richness, with gentle nutty undertones and light fruit notes."

Ingredients: Cocoa Nibs, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that processes milk, nuts, and other common allergens.

Tavi Chocolates - Dark Chocolate & Golden Berry (bar) - Jan. 1, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Tavi Chocolates
Good ++ - Good +++
Golden Berry - Dark Chocolate & Golden Berry (bar)
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Tavi Golden Berry - Dark Chocolate & Golden Berry (bar) was manufactured by Vast Company SAS in Bogota, Colombia, and Imported into the U.S. by Tavi Chocolates (Miami, FL). 

The company combines premium Colombian chocolate with a variety of flavor inclusions. Today's bar contained golden berries (Physalis peruviana). These South American fruits resemble golden colored cherry tomatoes covered with a beautiful, husk-like, semi-transparent sheath.

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet dark chocolate; aromatic, ripe golden berry (fruit) and a pleasant array of very faint botanical, fruit syrup/honey notes.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with crispy/crunchy freeze-dried golden berry pieces (with surprisingly few tiny white seeds).

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet, dark chocolate with authentic golden berry fruit (aka, Cape Gooseberry, Inca Berry). Warning, this bar can be very addictive.

I loved this flavorful, well executed bar. The use of freeze-dried golden berries was perfect. The fruit maintained its natural, tart-sweet, honeyed and (almost tomato) umami flavor; and the berry pieces were perfectly crisp and light in their freeze-dried state. 

The textural blend was well-executed, flavorful and completely conveyed the complexity of these berries. The dark chocolate was smooth tasting and despite being relatively sweet it was also a good match for the fruit.

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecit(h)in, Vainilla (sic)), Freeze-Dried Cape Gooseberry.

Allergen-related information: "Produced on Equipment That Also Processes Products Containing Milk, Peanuts and Other Tree Nuts."